With a Foreword by Paul Demieville.
xvi, 103p., Gloss., Bib., Index, 23 cm.
CONTENTS
DESCRIPTION
Here is an exposition of Buddhism conceived in a resolutely modern spirit by one of the most qualified and enlightened representatives of the religion. The book is a luminous account of fundamental principles of the Buddhist doctrine, as they are found in the most ancient texts, which are called 'The Tradition' (Agama) in Sanskrit and 'The Canonic Corpus' (Nikaya) in Pali. Dr. Rahula, who possesses an incomparable knowledge of these texts, refers to them constantly and almost exclusively. Their authority is recognized unenviously by all the Buddhist schools, which were and are numerous, but none of which ever deviates from these texts, except with the intention of better interpreting the spirit beyond the letter. The interpretation has indeed been varied in the course of the expansion of Buddhism through many centuries and vast regions, and the Law has taken more than one aspect. But the aspect of Buddhism here presented by Dr. Rahula-humanist, rational, Socratic in some respects, evangelic in others, or again almost scientific-has for its support a great deal of authentic scriptural evidence which he only had to let speak for themselves.
